Re: TUTORIAL: Make a Start in Ascii Art

Thank you for sharing your advice on getting started with all of this.  I was
just going to post that same question today!  At least now I have a start and
can't wait until I make something creative to share with this group.
Remember to be kind when I do, I am new at this!  :-)

Robyn

Colin Douthwaite wrote:

> PLEASE NOTE:  Questions should be addressed to the original author,
>               Daniel Au, whose address is included below:
>
> ====================================================================
>
>                       Make a Start in Ascii Art
>
> ====================================================================
>
> From: dca...@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Daniel Au)
> Newsgroups: alt.ascii-art,rec.arts.ascii
> Subject: Talk/Line: How to begin doing ASCII artwork
> Date: 4 Oct 1995 15:47:46 -0500
> Message-ID: <44urti$ng...@miso.wwa.com>
>
> I just wrote this now in response to an email sent to me asking how
> I did my ASCII artwork.  I responded by writing a brief walkthrough
> of my thought processes (well, kind of) and just wanted to share
> them on the group.  Let's see more people try to make create their
> own new artwork instead of requesting for the old stuff all the
> time.  It'll make for a better newsgroup overall and everyone will
> benefit!  -- Daniel
>
> = ASCII art tips and example ==
>
> Try practicing to make your own artwork by just typing on the
> keyboard, which is what I do (I work just using the DOS text editor
> which comes along with any MSDOS machine.  Any text editor will do.)
> Begin by basic shapes.  For example, if you're making an animal -
> say a giraffe - let's start with the head:
>
>                      __.ii,
>                     (__," |
>                         | |
>
> basically simple shapes to make it look approximately like it does
> in real life (as best as you can, at least, in this case I've
> cartooned it a bit :-) The " is making up the eyes, the . and , the
> ears and a smile.  The i i are those antennae like things on top of
> their heads (if I remember correctly).  I usually like to keep my
> artwork within the size of a screen.  Since a giraffe is a tall
> animal, I'm keeping the details smaller.  Then continue on with the
> body and some legs.  Try to do a rough outline.
>
>                      __.ii,
>                     (__," |
>                         | |
>                         | |
>                         | |
>                         | |
>                         | |
>                         | |------------,
>                        /               \\
>                        |                |\
>                        |,._  |,______\ |||
>                        || //'     ||  || |
>                        || ((      ||  || |
>                        || `\\     ||  || M
>                        ||   \\    ||  ||
>                       /_|   /_|  /_| /_|
>
> It's best to add some . and , in order to smooth out some of the
> edges.  Then the tail is in the back.  Then add the detail - hair on
> the neck and spots on the body.
>
>                      __.ii,
>                     (__," |%
>                         | #%
>                         | |%
>                         | #%
>                         # |%
>                         | |%
>                         | |%-----------,
>                        / ###  #####    \\
>                        |####   """" ### |\
>                        |,._  |,_###__\ |||
>                        || //'     ||  || |
>                        || ((      ||  || |
>                        || `\\     ||  || M
>                        ||   \\    ||  ||
>                       /_|   /_|  /_| /_|  dcau
>
> That's pretty much for a quick giraffe that I just did while writing
> this letter.  You can add more stuff like a tree and a bird on a
> branch too:
>
>               O  )    __.ii,           \ | /
>        O          )  (__," |%         - (_) -
>   O              )       | #%          / | \
>                 )        | |%
>    O          )          | #%
>           O )            # |%
>         ,~               | |%
> -- ~| ~   `O>            | |------------,
>     |  ||_</)__         / ###  #####    \\
>     | //'/""            |####   """" ### |\
>     //                  |,._  |,_###__\ |||     A quick sketch of a
>     |                   || //'     ||  || |     tree, bird, and giraffe
> D   |                   || ((      ||  || |        by Daniel C. Au (dcau)
>  C  |                   ||  \\     ||  || M
>   A |                   ||   \\    ||  ||
>    U \_,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,/_|,,,/_|,,/_|,/_|,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
>
> How's that for a happy little scene? :-)  I etched my initials on
> the bottom of the tree. *grin*
>
> Just practice and practice and you'll get the hang of it.  Try to
> learn techniques from other people's artwork (Felix Lee's cats are a
> good example).  It'll help you learn how to orientate yourself and
> how to best use some of the characters.  Hope it goes well for
> everyone.  Let's see some more creative activity on the newsgroup.
> You _can_ do it!
>
> Regards,
> Daniel
>
> ====================================================================
>
> Follow-up this tutorial by getting a copy of the Ascii Art FAQ
>
>   =====>  Subject: FAQ - ASCII Art Questions & Answers
>
> Subject: FAQ - ASCII Art Questions & Answers (4.9.2 - 58 K)
>
> Summary: what ASCII art is - why and what it's used for - types of
>          ASCII art how to use FTP, Gopher, WWW - how to save,
>          'uudecode' and uncompress copyright info - how to make big
>          letters and gray scale pictures how to put an animation in
>          your .plan - info on posting ASCII art how to make sigs -
>          how to automatically add a sig to posts and email how to
>          make and view ASCII art - where to get art and tools - more
>
> 26  Where is this FAQ available?
> --------------------------------
>
> o FTP Sites:
>
> ->  Host: rtfm.mit.edu
>     Path: pub/usenet-by-group/rec.arts.ascii
>     File: FAQ_-_ASCII_Art_Questions_&_Answers_(*.*_-_*_K)
>      URL: ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-group/rec.arts.ascii
>
> ->  Host: src.doc.ic.ac.uk
>     Path: pub/usenet/news.answers/rec.arts.ascii
>     File: FAQ_-_ASCII_Art_Questions_&_Answers_(*.*_-_*_K)
>      URL: ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/pub/usenet/news.answers/rec.arts.ascii
>
> ========================================================================

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